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My dad and dialysis

Posted: Sun Feb 04, 2018 7:55 pm
by KenMackay
Dear all,
this is my first post, so first of all if this has been covered elsewhere I apologise.

My dad is 81 and had been living with Kidney Disease for 4 years with his kidneys hanging on working at about 18%. In his last check they have dropped to 8% and from talking to my mum we believe that in two weeks they will start the process for him to go onto dialysis 3 times a week. I know that the first step of this will be him having a wee procedure to get a fistula to enable that to happen.
The reason that I am posting is that from what I have heard there are two options for dialysis, the first at the local hospital in the morning to receive it, and the second with a machine at home. My dad will want it at home as he has been in and out of hospital with several serious things and is understandably scared of being in the place for any length of time. My mum, although she was a nurse in years gone by does not have the confidence to perform the procedure given her advancing years.
My question is, is there a way to get a nurse, a district nurse, or even a private nurse to come out and do the procedure for my dad? Has anyone done this before? If need be paying for it is an option to set my dad's mind at rest. Right now I don't even know where to ask to kick this off.

Thank you for your time,
Ken

Re: My dad and dialysis

Posted: Mon Feb 05, 2018 4:30 pm
by wagolynn
Hi Ken,

I think you will find that Dad will be better off going to a dialysis unit, the advantage is he will see other patients
making him feel, it is not only him.

I would think at his age he will have hospital transport for each session.

There is also a bit of a social atmosphere though usually not pushy, if he wants to talk to other patients someone will
be happy to do so.

Making a fistula is a hospital job, usually a part day. If dialysis is considered urgent he may be fitted with a neck line to get going.
A fistula usually take four to six weeks to be ready for use (the wound has to heal, internally and externally)

For home dialysis, there is usually a fairly long training period.

Best wishes.

Re: My dad and dialysis

Posted: Fri May 11, 2018 10:16 pm
by suzeworld
Hi
how did this go?

My dad is 84 and similarly his kidney function was c18 and stayed the same for years then recently dipped dramatically to single figures, so now they are going to put the fistula in.

He was not encouraged to think that he could have the "home" option for dialysis by his "team".
When we walked through the unit the other day it looked very highly staffed compared to other places in the hospital - so I think he will be well cared for - and I think he will quite like meeting the other people there. Also a bit of a break for my mum, as I see it!